Ian Jowett entered Tui’s branch in North Street, Brighton, in October 2018. He approached the counter with a piece of paper hand-written with the message: “Pass the money, I am not joking. I have a gun pointed at you, don’t mess about”.
A member of staff, believing it was a genuine threat, handed over a quantity of cash.
Sussex Police said enquiries revealed the man had entered a nearby pub shortly after the incident, where he left his bag containing personal papers including his birth certificate. It also contained some rolled-up paper, believed to be used to imitate a gun in his pocket.
